Ep 10. Search for King David

Digging for the Truth is a thrilling adventure reality television series where the host, Josh Bernstein, digs into history's unsolved mysteries to uncover the truth. In season 3 episode 10 titled Search for King David, the focus is put on the search for the legendary leader of the Israelites, King David.

The episode starts with a brief history of King David, who according to the Bible, was the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel. He is known for his military prowess and his contribution to the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Josh begins his search for King David in modern-day Jerusalem. He meets with a prominent archaeologist and historian, Dr. Gabriel Barkay, who shows him the City of David, the ancient ruins believed to be the original site of Jerusalem.

Dr. Barkay explains that finding evidence of King David's existence is challenging since the Bible is the only historical reference to his existence. However, archaeologists have discovered a few artifacts that suggest the possibility of his existence in Jerusalem during the 11th century BCE.

Josh and Dr. Barkay continue their search by visiting the Valley of Elah, where the biblical story of David and Goliath played out. They hike up to the top of a nearby hill to get an overall view of the valley. The valley is significant because it was the site of a battle between the Israelites and the Philistines, which according to the Bible, David won by slaying Goliath with a stone slung from his sling.

Next, Josh meets with another historian, Dr. Avraham Faust, who takes him to the ancient city of Tel el-Farah, believed to be the site of the biblical city of Sharuhen. This city is significant because it was one of the few cities outside of Jerusalem that the Bible mentions David conquering.

Dr. Faust explains that the excavation of Tel el-Farah has led to significant discoveries, but none have provided direct evidence of King David's presence. However, archaeologists have found evidence of a fortified city that was believed to exist during David's reign.

As Josh continues his search, he meets with Dr. Israel Finkelstein, an archaeologist who has been studying the ancient city of Megiddo, believed to be part of the Kingdom of Israel during King David's reign. Dr. Finkelstein takes Josh to the site of the Megiddo Palace, where they examine a gate structure that dates back to the 10th century BCE.

The gate structure at Megiddo Palace is significant because it is believed to be the earliest example of a four-chambered gate, which according to the Bible, was used for royal cities during David's reign. Although this structure cannot be linked directly to King David, it provides evidence that fortified cities with advanced architecture existed during the same time David ruled.

Finally, in a dramatic conclusion to the episode, Josh visits the famed Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. Here, he examines one of the most significant scrolls found, the Copper Scroll, which is believed to provide a detailed list of treasures hidden in Jerusalem during the time of King David.

Although a few of the treasures listed in the Copper Scroll have been found, the rest remain a mystery. However, the scroll provides hope for future discoveries of artifacts and evidence that can lead to the finding of King David.

Overall, the episode is a captivating journey that takes viewers through history and archaeology to bring them closer to uncovering the truth about one of Israel's most celebrated kings.